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Effects of Constipation Treatment in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Pilot Feasibility Trial

Clinical, Biochemical, and Microbiological Effects of Constipation Treatment in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Pilot Feasibility Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06123195
Enrollment
14
Registered
2023-11-08
Start date
2024-02-01
Completion date
2025-11-17
Last updated
2025-12-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chronic Kidney Disease, Constipation

Keywords

Chronic Kidney Disease, Constipation, Microbiota

Brief summary

Constipation is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has been associated with their adverse kidney and cardiovascular outcomes; however, little is known about the effects of constipation treatment on clinical outcomes nor on outcome-related biochemical and microbiological parameters in patients with CKD. The investigators aim to test the feasibility of delivering an intervention with constipation treatment and determine its effects on changes in clinical, biochemical, and microbiological parameters in patients with CKD and constipation.

Interventions

OTHERConstipation treatment

Lactulose 15 mL (10 g) will be taken orally once daily (in the evening), which can be titrated at 1-week intervals in 15 mL (10 g) increments or decrements up to 60 mL (40 g) as a total daily dose.

Sponsors

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
CollaboratorNIH
University of Florida
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Tennessee
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

A single-center, open-label, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, pilot feasibility trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Male or female patients \>18 years old. 2. Patients able and willing to provide written informed consent and HIPAA authorization. 3. CKD stages G3-G5 without kidney replacement therapy with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<60 mL/min/1.73m2 calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) 2021 creatinine equation. 4. Functional or opioid-induced constipation based on the Rome IV criteria. 5. Patients must refrain from taking any laxatives for at least one week prior to screening, although rescue with one bisacodyl 5 mg tablet will be allowed when a patient does not have a bowel movement for ≥3 consecutive days or when symptoms become intolerable. 6. A negative pregnancy test in female patients prior to enrolment, unless the patient is two years postmenopausal or has had a documented tubal ligation or hysterectomy.

Exclusion criteria

1. History of drug abuse, anorexia nervosa, or bulimia. 2. History of irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, or Clostridium difficile bacterial infection (ever). 3. Liver cirrhosis or chronic active hepatitis (patients with treated hepatitis can be included). 4. Galactosemia. 5. Allergies to lactulose. 6. History of gastrointestinal surgery except appendectomy. 7. Use of antibiotics or immunosuppressants within 30 days prior to the enrollment in the study. 8. Use of pre- or probiotics within 30 days prior to enrollment in the study. 9. Women who are pregnant, capable of becoming pregnant and not participating in an acceptable form of birth control, or who are breast feeding. 10. Patients currently participating in another interventional study. 11. Major surgery within one month prior to enrollment in the study or planned surgery while the patient is in the study, other than dialysis vascular access surgery. 12. Patients who the investigator determine have a medical status that would preclude the patient's participation. 13. Patients on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. 14. Patients with a functional kidney transplant. 15. Patients with past lactulose use.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The feasibility of delivering the proposed interventions and performing the proposed examinations, assessed based on the adherence to prescribed protocolFrom enrollment to the end of follow-up at 6 weeksThe feasibility of delivering the applied interventions and performing the proposed examinations will be determined based on the following feasibility outcomes, assessed as 1) ≥90% of participants randomized in the intervention group and under observation will adhere to the proposed intervention, 2) ≥80% patients under observation will adhere to the study-specific timed collection of stool, urine, and blood samples, and 3) ≥85% patients will complete the study (\<15% patients will be dropped out).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in stool consistencyFrom enrollment to the end of follow-up at 6 weeksChanges in stool consistency assessed by Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) from baseline to 2, 4, and 6 weeks.
Changes in constipation symptomsFrom enrollment to the end of follow-up at 6 weeksChanges in constipation symptoms assessed by Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) score from baseline to 2, 4, and 6 weeks.
Changes in serum creatinineFrom enrollment to the end of follow-up at 6 weeksChanges in serum creatinine from baseline to 2, 4, and 6 weeks.
Changes in serum phosphorusFrom enrollment to the end of follow-up at 6 weeksChanges in serum phosphorus from baseline to 2, 4, and 6 weeks.
Changes in microbial parametersFrom enrollment to the end of follow-up at 6 weeksChanges in gut and circulating microbiota from baseline to 2, 4, and 6 weeks.
Changes in plasma potassiumFrom enrollment to the end of follow-up at 6 weeksChanges in plasma potassium from baseline to 2, 4, and 6 weeks.
Changes in plasma C-reactive proteinFrom enrollment to the end of follow-up at 6 weeksChanges in plasma C-reactive protein from baseline to 2, 4, and 6 weeks.
Changes in plasma lipopolysaccharideFrom enrollment to the end of follow-up at 6 weeksChanges in plasma lipopolysaccharide from baseline to 2, 4, and 6 weeks.
Changes in urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) and protein-creatinine ratio (UPCR)From enrollment to the end of follow-up at 6 weeksChanges in urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) and protein-creatinine ratio (UPCR) from baseline to 2, 4, and 6 weeks.
Changes in serum p-cresyl sulfate and indoxyl sulfateFrom enrollment to the end of follow-up at 6 weeksChanges in serum p-cresyl sulfate and indoxyl sulfate from baseline to 2, 4, and 6 weeks.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026